Friday, August 13, 2010

walking toy

Another tip/idea we got from our PT is to put the ankle weight at the bottom of the push toy so that it weighs the walking toy down. This helps keep the walking toy from getting ahead of Whitney too quickly when she stands up and pushes it to try to walk. You can really tell the difference between when we have the weight at the bottom of the toy and when we don't - it definitely gets ahead of Whitney and she has a hard time keeping up when the walking toy is not weighted down. The weights we used on Whitney's ankles yesterday were one pound weights that belong to our PT. I was not able to find one pound weights but I did find some two pound weights at TJ Maxx - this is what we use on the walking toy and are starting to use at home when our PT is not here with her one pound weights. Just wanted to share the idea in case anyone else has a walking toy that gets going to quickly when your kiddo tries to walk behind it...

14 comments:

I just can't get enough of those girls!! BEAUTIFUL=) And look at Miss Whitney standing tall!! love it!! Keep up the good work Whitney!

BTW, you have a great helper by your side=)

Thanks for sharing this tip, Laura!! Out PT does the same with Landon!! Out of nowhere he has started to stand up with his walking toy (but would sometimes fall back on him)! The weights work out wonderfully! We use 2 pounders too!!

Whitney is a living doll and wow ... really on the move1the weight idea is ingenious and I will whisper sweet nothings in Miss Z's ears that if she doesn't get moving,I'll be strapping n those babies!Kidding of course but really,my girl has got to get moving1

Hello...I feel like it has been forever since I left a comment. Hope you aren't mad at me :) What a great idea about putting the weight on the walking toy. I remember when Ella first started using hers, it always seemed to tip over. That has been the best help in getting her walking. She will do laps with her walking toy and I think it does so much in getting her legs stronger. I can't remember if I already told you this or not, but almost everyone that would come in the hospital and see Ella's photo wall would comment on how beautiful Whitney is. She is definitely the blondest one of the bunch and her eyes are simply stunning.....but I know you already know that!!! Hope you guys are doing well.

The photos of the girls are wonderful! How gorgeous they are..and what a great idea with the weight on the stroller...looks like Whitney is enjoying herself and Anne too. God bless all. Love, Aunt Kathy

Too cute! We tried using that exact same walking toy but by the time Madison was ready to use it she was already too tall and ended up hunching over it trying to walk.One day she lifted herself up to her princess riding car which has a bar in the back to support her back and she started walking with it and that became her walker! I wish I had the idea of using weights to help stable it though, we have all hard wood floors so everytime she put her weight on it to stand it'd slip away.

Christmas Angel Tree TwentyTen

About Me

We (Mike & Laura) have two beautiful daughters: Anne, age 5 and Whitney, age 3. We decided to "blog" as a way to let our family and friends know the latest news about our family. We found out when Whitney was born that she has Down syndrome and a complete AV canal heart defect. Whitney had successful open-heart surgery on 12-1-08. We hope you enjoy our adventures, "up, down and all around!"